This thread got me thinking...on all of the pics I saw of the IBR bikes, they looked pretty loaded down with most of the weight sitting high which probably resulted in a little bit of instability with the C.O.G. being that high. Are trailers permitted in the IBR? If so, do many people use them?
I have considered the very same question myself. I've never seen them used, but I have read the rules and do not remember anything prohibiting them. Personally I run a more conventual Bushtec trailer. Two wheels so you dont have to "Balance" the weight in the trailer. In fact, by packing all the gear in the trailer on a long trip the bike is actually running "light". Takes a whisker longer to accelerate and to bring to a stop, but with the engine and brakes on the FJR its a very small performance hit. Here's a link to another
trailer thread. Scroll part way down you will see pics of my bike with the Bushtec.
What I see as the real advantage would be the ease of packing. You could carry a whole range of gear and it would be very fast and easy to get to. Pop open the lid, grab what you need and then drop the lid shut. Getting cold? Pop the lid open and grab the jacket with the extra liners and eletric vest already in place, swap jackets (or the whole stitch) and keep goind. Getting warm? Pop the lid drop the 'stich and grab the mesh gear. When your done there is no trying to jamn everything back in place. Just close the lid and go!
Howabout a change of dry clothes for that one giant frogchocker that you they always seem to run through on the IBR. No trying to dry your clothes out because they are all you brought. Just grab a clean dry set of clothes and change. You're now dry and ready to go. I've done that on one or two trips now myself. Halfway through a pissy day that you would otherwise give up and grab a hotel, I can change into a dry set of clothes at a gas station and keep running.
It might be a hassle on really tight gnarly terrain. (Bristlecone?) But what I would do if I had to go down one of these goat-paths and it was an in-and-out deal is unhook the trailer at the start of the road and lock it to a tree or something. Do the run, come back and hook up again. It only takes a minute to unhook and hookup. And now you have the advantage of running a completely unloaded bike up the road while everyone else is struggling with top-heavy fully loaded bikes.
Tire wear would be an issue if you were trying to do the whole rally on one tire. But if you were planning on a tire change at the halfway point anyways, then tire wear is a non issue. You could easily make 1/2 to 2/3 of the rally on one rear BT020. I can get around 8000km-5000miles out of a BT020 when towing the trailer. Without a trailer I would get around 10000km-6000miles out of a BT020. More than enough to make the halfway point. Plus you could even bring a spare set with you. No hunting around for a tire shop with the right size type. Just find a place that can perform the change and pull in.
If not, why do you think that is?
The same reason most people dont use them in the sport touring community. They are perceived as being a hinderance to the performance of the bike. When you're fully loaded with gear though I have found the opposite. The reality is that getting all that weight off the bike and into the trailer makes the bike easier to handle.
If I were running the IBR would I use my trailer? Don't really know. I can see the advantages. But the appeal of running light without a trailer is there too.
- Colin
